Too Big For Deer?

[TwoValveKid]

I've been contemplating taking an old Mosin that is 7.62x54r and converting it with a modern stock and scope and using it to plink around with so i have a nice rifle. I will take it hunting, but it will also mainly be a range gun since other hunting caliber rounds (such as a 270) are a little bit too expensive tor me to take several hundred and shoot in the afternoon at our local outdoor. Anyone think this will be too big? most of the shots that will be taken will be in the neighborhood of 150 yards. (which may be grossly far)

[einheit 13]

Originally Posted by TwoValveKid

I've been contemplating taking an old Mosin that is 7.62x54r and converting it with a modern stock and scope and using it to plink around with so i have a nice rifle. I will take it hunting, but it will also mainly be a range gun since other hunting caliber rounds (such as a 270) are a little bit too expensive tor me to take several hundred and shoot in the afternoon at our local outdoor. Anyone think this will be too big? most of the shots that will be taken will be in the neighborhood of 150 yards. (which may be grossly far)

no, first you need to tell me about it...what kind of Mosin is it, year, arsenal (arrow in star is Tula, fletched arrow in triangle is Izhevsk, unfletched arrow in triangle is Romanian). And if you want to fix one up i have a 1953 Romanian/Hungarian M44 that would be a great deer gun! I hunt with them alot, great for large game. I'm in Hampton......

[Brickboy240]

The caliber is fine for deer, as the 54R is close to the 30-06 in power. The Mosin design leaves alot to be desired, over a Mauser type action - mainly the clunky safety and no claw extractor.

For a little more money, you could get a nice used Yugo 8mm Mauser and have alot better rifle for that task. THe 8x57mm is a great caliber, surplus ammo is cheap and the 98 sytled Mausers are easier to sporterize and have a MUCH more positive safety. The Mauser trigger is also much easier to lighten safely or replace entirely with the Timney or Dayton units. Scope bases/rings also mount up more positively than those awkward scout units for Mosins that tend to put the scop at an uncomfortable, unnatural angle.

How do I know about this Mauser/sporter thingy? I own two sporterized Mausers and love them. I also own three mosins and though they ARE good shooters, the Mauser is just better all the way around for what you're looking to do.

I have seen Yugo M-48 Mausers selling for around 119 dollars...not much more than a Mosin and I guarantee you'll like it more in the end.

...my two cents worth (as one that fools around alot with military surplus rifles)

- Brickboy240

[chupacabrachus]

Saftey-shmaftey. I don't think that the 10+ pound trigger pull is going to get accidentially pulled on my mosin.

[Tomcat088]

I think that either of the rifles mentioned would be fine and have sufficient power to drop a dear. I did want to make one point about it all. You mentioned ammunition and saving money on it. Just realize that in those calibers, if you're shooting a FMJ, it's not ideal for a deer. If you're reloading then I suppose you could use a different expanding bullet, otherwise you might have a few problems with 1 shot kills. Just remember that if you were to use a fmj to hunt deer with, overpenetration will be an issue, and that the bullet won't expand so you have to make a direct shot on a vital. Best of luck to you.

[Kauzi XD45]

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

I think that either of the rifles mentioned would be fine and have sufficient power to drop a dear. I did want to make one point about it all. You mentioned ammunition and saving money on it. Just realize that in those calibers, if you're shooting a FMJ, it's not ideal for a deer. If you're reloading then I suppose you could use a different expanding bullet, otherwise you might have a few problems with 1 shot kills. Just remember that if you were to use a fmj to hunt deer with, overpenetration will be an issue, and that the bullet won't expand so you have to make a direct shot on a vital. Best of luck to you.

+1 A friend of mine converted his SKS to a sport rifle to hunt with, the first year he shot a Muley at about 250 yards with FMJ bullets, I had to help him track the deer for 2 days, he hit vitals, but without an expanding bullet, the deer lived and ran almost 3 miles. The next year he got some kind of hollow point, and his deer went down within 100 yards. The second one wasnt as good of a shot either.

[einheit 13]

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

I think that either of the rifles mentioned would be fine and have sufficient power to drop a dear. I did want to make one point about it all. You mentioned ammunition and saving money on it. Just realize that in those calibers, if you're shooting a FMJ, it's not ideal for a deer. If you're reloading then I suppose you could use a different expanding bullet, otherwise you might have a few problems with 1 shot kills. Just remember that if you were to use a fmj to hunt deer with, overpenetration will be an issue, and that the bullet won't expand so you have to make a direct shot on a vital. Best of luck to you.

Soft points for 54r and 8mm are pretty cheap, like $8 or less for 20. The 8mm will out do the 54r at ranges past 300yds. I have only use SPs once in my 54r and didn't really see an advantage till I started taking 500yrd + shots. My record so far is a 2 shot kill at 642yrds with a "no maker' M39 with a PEM scope set up. The range was taken from a Nikkon range finder prior to and after the shots. That was a long walk.

I don't see why people talk about Mosin triggers so much, a little hand fitting,shimming and polishing is all they need to be really crisp.......

[TwoValveKid]

I was really looking at either a mosin or the mauser. just forgot about the mauser. Either one would be a good base and then i could modify it to use for hunting.

Some have mis understood my question. Im not going to be hunting with the FMJ's. When im talking about "cheap ammo" i mean i can go to the range with a box of ammunition and have a little fun without hurting my wallet. But when i go hunting i will use a nice soft point or HP. Going to the range and shooing 800 rounds of 7.62x54r or 8mm is MUCH cheaper than the same with win 270 or 30.06. Suplus ammo, as mentioned, is very nice to plink around with. And i would still have the versatility of going hunting if i needed to.

Can you get the same updated stocks and such for the mausers that you can as the mosins? Im jsut familiar with them because a friend of mine just did what i speak of with a mosin. And it really depends on what is at the gun show at the opportune time. Ive seen both guns for under 100 bucks stacked in boxes at shows here.

I never shot a rifle until this weekend and once i shot my friends G3 i was hooked

[CavSoldier]

It should be a great hunting rifle. Also 150 is not too far this year I am telling myself that I won't take a shot closer than 200 for rifle. I like the sport of it more than the trophy. That and archery is my true passion.

[TwoValveKid]

True. For the short range stuff i have my rem. 1100. Which i shot at the range for the first time this weekend and was shooting scary tight groups @ about 25 yards with wal mart "target load"